Clyde's Comeback!

After a super stressful night I was scared to get up and see how the hip felt. It was so so. Not good like it has been the last 3 weeks but not super painful like it got yesterday. So I did the same run as yesterday morning minus the Secret St. Hip had a little catch in it and a dull pain but by the end of the run I felt a crazy calming feeling and had a pretty good stride going. Ugh! I don't know what's gonna happen now but I do know that I'll for sure be passing the the golf tourney I was scheduled to play in on Thurs.

2.4 miles this afternoon on the treadmill. Hip hurt pretty bad. Sucks! Stretched and did PT stuff for an hour after.

3 mile warm up then 2 miles at 5:40 pace avg  and a 1.7 mile cool down back home.

Woke up and the hip was stiff. But I needed to push it and see just how bad it was. Warmed up and it was hurting but not crazy bad. So I did the 2 mile tempo through B-hills. It hurt but not any worse than the warm up. So I don't know what to think. Guess I'll just make the best of it... whatever that might be on race day.

2.4 miles around the park loop. Worst run yet. Hip hurt like hell. Bummer.

3 miles on the treadmill this afternoon. Hip hurt but not as bad as yesterday afternoons run. Took it really easy and for a mile there was no pain but by mile two the pain came back. Had taken 800 m of Ib about 1.5 hours before getting on the treadmill and it about made me barf while running. True Bliss around here right now!

3 miles on the treadmill. Hip was more or less the same as yesterday. I'm kind of freaking out about what's gonna happen tomorrow. Guess til then I'll watch "Without Limits" and try to channel some of my inner beast.

Well another STG in the books. This makes 9 in a row. One more and my deal with the devil is over:). I'm happy the race turned out so positive, not only for me but most other runners as well today. It really wasn't very fun to be honest... kind of like punching the clock in a factory or something. I wasn't thrilled to wake up and get ready. The hip hurt at home right when I got out of bed at 4:00 a.m. I wasn't happy to be up at the start just kind of going through the motions. As I started to warm up in the staging area my hip had the same pain as at home. But I had put a heat patch on it in the port-a-potty about 20 min's before the race started and as I warmed up- the heat patch did too:) I had no idea what woud happen when the gun went off. Really. I didn't know how this race would turn out at all. Outside of my hip hurting. I hadn't ran much mileage over the summer. I had only did 2 tempo runs (the last two weeks) and this was my first regular running race in one year. There were just too many questions in my head to know or shoot for a time goal. Having said that I felt my fitness was fairly strong and my years of marathoning might carry me through the hard finishing miles... whenever they might show up.

So my baseline plan was to go out smooth but quick. Not redlineing but aggressive enough to pad a second half melt down. I thought if the hip would allow that I'd try to get to the half in 1:16 ish and then hang on to 6 min miles on the second half... for as long as I could at least.

And that's basically what happened. I hit the first mile in 5:45 or so right behind Dave, Logan, and Ben with Walter right by my side. I felt comfy but decided that sticking right with these guys wasnt totally smart. So on the second mile I relaxed a little and the three of them put like 10 seconds on me. So from mile 2 to Veyo I was about 10 seconds back and Walter was my wing man. With every mile going into Veyo I knew I was going pretty fast and banking some time but I really tried to run smooth and not upset the hip. Which at the time (and the whole race for that matter) hurt but only a shallow little sensation just saying "hey I'm here... don't go crazy you idiot". Once we hit Veyo at mile 7 and started the climb I knew I had some time to really take the Veyo hill easy and also the upcoming Dameron Valley climbs that finally end at mile 12. So Dave, Logan and Ben... put another 10-15 seconds on me up Veyo and by the time we got to the half I was back about 2 min's. As I made my way up Dameron I heard footsteps coming really fast and I knew it was too early for someone to be taking off. I thought it was Steve coming but finally Ben came up. I was like "what the heck dude". He explained he'd stopped in Veyo for a potty break. I wished him luck and he smoothly ran away from me. And looked so strong doing it (ended up hitting a PR of 2:26). People talk about having a little tail wind in 2007 when we all had fast times. But I really never remember it doing much. But today I really felt it. And when you needed it. It pushed me up Veyo hill and Dameron. I don't remember it anywhere else but it seriously helped up the hills and today I needed all the help I could get.

Came in to the half at 1:16:04- Wow right where I wanted to be. Didn't feel like I killed myself doing it either. So mathmaticly now I had to really blow up to not go sub 2:41 (which was my 8 year avg and mini goal). So I just told myself to run 6 min pace all the way home. Don't try and do anything more. And if it gets ugly in the end the faster miles on the first 7 should give me the breathing room I need. Well the pace stayed under 6 min's through the half. Down into Snow Canyon and Winchester. My quads were in trouble though. The other issue I knew would bother me today was my lack of downhill training. I started to feel it at mile 14! By mile 16 I was a bonafied problem. They hurt bad and I had 10 more miles... 10! But I just kept clipping away like 5:55 pace. Up the Winchester hill I slowed and the lead Japanese guy caught me. I worried about not being able to get going again. But as we crested the hill I again started hitting sub 6 min pace... even 5:30ish down the turns. I was almost in despair because of the quads as I come down onto Bluff at around mile 23. It hurt SO bad and by Red Hills golf course the 4th and last person of the day passed me. He told me to come on and finished it with him... but I couldn't. I was starting to fade. Now when I checked the pace it was 6:12-6:20 and felt like 10 min pace. I thought massive amounts of people where going to come blazing by  and I was scared to look back as we turned on to Diagonal st. So I labored down it pushing out whatever pace it was. I was too scard to look at the watch from now on as well. But at the end of Diagonal St. I had to look back and see who was coming. Just needed to prepare myself for the beat down. But my mind was blown when there was no one. Nobody in sight... at all. Oh man did this make my day or what. I was like even 7 min miles for the last 2 or 1.5 and I'm in like flin. So I used everything I had left down into town. Pepi was only 10 seconds or less in front of me and I just couldn't close the gap. We passed the one mile to go clock and with even a 8 min mile I could still be faster than last year. So I again was like "ok Superfly don't die here" don't trip, don't do anything but keep it square and bring it on home. I'm sure I looked like death on the finshing 200 m as I watched the clock tick off closer to 2:34... I crossed the line in 2:33:59 and was in awe at what just happened. It was work. I had to go get it but Wow! What did I just do? The night before I would have taken a 2:40 if someone would have offered it to me. One of the hardest efforts of my life. I'll pay a big price too:) Quads are jacked into next month. Who know's what the long term damage is with the hip and all. But 2 years in a row I've come into this race with some serious pain and injury and walked away with a 2:35 and 2:33 respectively. Happy, happy, happy!

HoweverI'm making a packt with myself to change things... How about for next year. My 10th STG- lets come in with guns a blazing, healthy and ready to throw down one last time. I've got one year to get my life together:)

Temps were 50 F when I left the house this morning and dropped to around 47 F at sunup. Didn't get as cold as I thought it would and the sun warmed things up out on the course early. I had all my extra clothing off by Veyo and it was hot and sunny at the park/finish. Were as in 2007 I wore gloves the whole day and everyone had jackets on at awards. But probably the second best conditions I've had here.

10k -34:49 (5:37 pace)

13.1 -1:16:04 (5:49 pace)

30k -1:47:21 (5:46 pace)

26.2 - 2:33:59 (5:53 avg)

3 mile walk with the family before the morning GC.

1 mile walk this evening with the family. Myler road his bike on both. Pretty good for a 4 year old.

2.5 mile walk pushing Halen in the jogger. Legs are crazy sore. Crazy.

2.5 mile walk pushing Halen while Myler road along side with Ears sniffing everying in sight. Legs are feeling better and I maybe could have ran today but I'm in no rush.

Actually didn't do anything today... fitness related that is. I have had a insane craving for unhealthy food.

1 hour biking. Took Halen out in the bike trailer and Myler road a long side. We went for about a 40 min ride. Then I got on the trainer for around 20 min's after we got home. First time really riding since LOTOJA.

First run since the marathon. I'm really tore up aka JACKED. I didn't feel any crazy injury and in fact the hip felt pretty good (other than being tight from riding the trainer yesterday... biking could be the problem). But my muscles are all just soup. Still sore, still weak, still needing more junk food:). I think I pushed it harder into the danger zone in this last race than I ever have. Hence I'm gonna take much longer to recover.

So I'm not 100% but I really think that biking is what has been making my hip hurt while I'm running for like the last year... I'm still gonna try a few more trials in the next couple weeks to see but it's looking like one of the main reasons. While riding it's causing some irritation that shows up while running. So I may not be riding anymore for a year... or I've got to figure out how to fix the problem so I can do both and eventually get that full ironman off my chest.

Treadmill. Wactched 90's music videios on VEVO off the apple tv. It was fun. Legs felt much better than the day before.

Pushed Halen around the DC loop in the Baby jogger. I was worried about my legs falling apart and the hip hurting and I was also stressed about Halen getting sick of it or needing food. Didn't want it to turn into a scream fest with like 3 miles to go. But it all went great. Legs really felt pretty good and Halen slept the last 9.8 miles. 7:20 avg.

Middle B-hills/ Secret St/ LV with a little extra over to a potty stop. Hip hurt yesterday afternoon and through the night into the morning. It was tight and achy into about .5 miles of the run then I didn't feel it anymore. So good and bad I guess. Bad news is it isn't totally caused from biking as I havent been on a cycle for days. But it coud be irritated by heavy lifting and I've had a few days over the weekend where I worked on some yard project and could have set something off.

Other than the hip the run was good. Out about 20 min's before daybreak in a long sleeve and gloves but after a couple miles I had to pull the sleeves up on the shirt. Over night low of 44 F. Myler and I slept out in the tent last night and I was hot... Super warm bag that I had to unzip to cool off so I could even try and sleep.

4.4 miles tonight. Ran over to the Region HS cross country meet at B-hills park. It's 2.0 miles from my house directly over there. Then I did .4 running around while watching. Hip hurt crazy bad on the way back home. Ugh... the saga rolls on.

Big boys run here at the house at 5:15 a.m. No one really wanted to do 10 so we cut it short and only did 8. B-ills/ Secret St/ Little Valley loop. Nice and crisp and good company. EZ pace.

0 miles or anything else. Hip was hurting and I had no drive to fight it today.

Trail run from Steven's house. Looped up and hit the Zen trail and that whole area. Started in the dark up some rocky canyon... that was fun and lucky we didn't loose Logan who couldn't see. A coyote would have loved to chew on his quads or butt... that's not a fat joke. Hip was achy but runnable throughout. Lovely morning with the lads.

Road both my new bikes today. 24.4 miles on the Tarmac and then around 4 short miles on the Venge. Just wanted to test them out a little after putting them together late last night. I actually planned on doing two loops out to the airport one on each bike... but I'm out of shape. Haven't ridden since LotoJa and the legs are gone. Holy cow was I struggling to keep the wheels rolling on the way back in. Guess I'll have to get back in shape after Thanksgiving once my wife finally gets done with all her tirps and work stuff.

Pushed Halen out and back into B-hills. Hip was crappy but the rest of the morning was nice. Didn't go around the DC loop because I want to try and run again this afternoon... so hopefully I'll get on the treadmill for a few then.

3.5 miles on the treadmill this afternoon. Not really that fun or easy but I did it anyways.

Treadmill miles. I'm a single dad until basically Thanksgiving. I'll be using my machine a lot until then.

8.2 miles this afternoon. My mom-in-law watched the boys so I was able to get some things done and enjoy a beautiful warm afternoon run. Hip was a little naggy for 3 miles but then I felt great after a potty stop in B-hills.

Pushed Halen around the DC loop in the baby jogger. It seemed like murder to get out the door and the first mile or two felt stiff, achy and old. But eventually warmed up and had a semi good run. Halen slept the entire trip. Hoping this becomes a pattern for him on runs. Because I worry the whole time that he'll wake up and start screaming. Got home and preped for the vaca. Leaving for Orlando in the morning.

Woke up at 4:30 and ran 7 miles before Myler woke up. Yes I left him home asleep... alone but in like 2.5 years he's never woke up before 6 a.m. So I figured I was safe. Headed to Orlando for a few days. 3 planes to get there made this day special:).

Ran around the Dolphin and Swan resort area. The running kind of sucks here if you wanna go more than like 2 miles. Under 2 and there are some cool little trails and stuff but any longer and you just run out of places to go. Last time we were out here I found space in the parking lot of Hollywood studio's. I'm sure I'll hit that up again this trip as well. But the sealevel felt good, real good actually. And the only hills were down and up a underpass.

Spent the rest of the day with the bride and Myler in the park that Walt built. Magic Kingdom. We have tickets to all 4 Disney parks while we are out here but I'm not sure if we'll go to all of them each day. Anyways it was special today with Myler and my feet really hurt.

Got a pretty bad blister on my little toe yesterday walking around the Magic Kingdom. So I opted not to run today. Still logged a long day on the feet. Mik'L had to work so Myler and I went into Orlando and hit the outlets for a day of shopping. He needed some new running shoes.

Spent half the day at Animal Kingdom and the other half into the night at Hollywood Studio's. Lots of fun including Mylers first trip down the Tower of Terror. He got off and said he hated it. But no tears. Later in the evening when everyone got kicked out of the park except we who are staying in the Disney resorts- he got to hang out with Micky Mouse in a little dance party room with only about 30 other kids.

Finally got a real run in here in Orlando. Got out early and did some of my old loops from the last time we were out here in 2008. River trail down to Hollywood parking lot. Felt ok with minimal hip issues. 1:10:43 for the run so just under 7 min pace. Last full day here. Another day at Magical Kingdom and some pool time.

Around the schools and into Bhills. Had a bad stomach so I cut back across the golf course and came home early. Woke up in Orlando today and flew out at 7:30 a.m. Was back in STG by 12:20 p.m. Still turned out to be a very long day geting up at 3 a.m Utah time. I've also got vacation gut now.
 

Wednesday morning social at my house. Running by 5:15 with the lads. Seemed like it'd be cool out but I was mad I'd broght gloves by about 2 miles in. Other than that temps and condtitions were perfect for a early morning run. It rained last night.

B-hills through the secret street and around LV. Cooler this morning at 38 F. I'm not ready for it to freeze so hopefully that can hold off for a month or so.... Running temp was perfet. Hip felt good and I was just happy to be alive.